Shirt folding attachment



May 3, 1955 E. suHAJDA 2,707,582

sH/IRT FOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 3, 1955 E. suHAJDA 2,707,582

SHIRT FOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHIRT FLDNG ATTACHMENT Emil Suhajda, Chicago, lll., assigner to G. H. Bishop Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of illinois Application September 19, i959, Serial No. 185,611

19 Claims. (Si. 22S-37) T his invention relates to laundry equipment and more particularly to garment folding apparatus such as a shirt folder of the type used in commercial laundries and the like.

With the increased popularity of the sport or soft collar style shirt, particularly in mens fashions, a problem has confronted the laundries as to the procedure or operation to be followed in the folding of these shirts. In shirts of this type, the collar is of a nonstand-up variety and thus the recessed, expansible collar mold, which is commonly to be found on shirt folding apparatus, serves no useful purpose. ln fact, the mold is a hindrance when folding such shirts, and often causes the collars thereof to become unduly wrinkled by reason of their sagging or dropping into the recess unless extreme care in folding is exercised by the operator. To rectify this situation, it has become a common practice among laundries to use special types of shirt folders which are adapted to handle this type of shirt exclusively. This solution to the problem, however, has many shortcomings. The added cost of such au apparatus, the increased time required in sorting the softcollared sport shirts from the conventional starched-collar dress style shirts, and the extra floor space requiredto accommodate such apparatus are but a few of the disadvantages.

Pl`hus it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a shirt folder which is readily adaptable to fold both non stand-up and stand-up collar shirts.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a device. which may be attached to existing shirt folders, which folders had heretofore been adapted to fold only stand-up collar shirts, so as to enable the operator to.

readily fold either stand-up or nonstand-up collar shirts on such folders with equal efficiency and effectiveness.

it is a still further object of this invention to provide a` device which is simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

ln accordance with one embodiment of this invention, device is provided for use with a garment or shirt folding apparatus having a substantituly flat folding surface and collar mold mounted on and recessed from said surface. The device comprises an adaptor element mounted on the folding surface adjacent the recess mold for movement into and out of covering relation with said recess mold. The adaptor element, when in covering relation, is disposed in substantially the same plane as the folding surface. The device further comprises a clamping member mounted on the folding surface adje entthe recessed mold for movement into and out or pressing engagement with the adaptor element when the latter is in closing relation with respect to the mold. The clamping member isprovided with means; for effecting locking and unlocking thereof in pressing engagement with the adaptor ele.- ment.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings, wherein lil Figure l is a perspective View of a shirt folding apparatus which is capable of folding shirts of either the stand-up collar type or the nonstand-up collar type;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of the apparatus taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 4; 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus taken along line 3*?) of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of the apparatus similar to Fig. 3 but showing the folding form in its down position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the pivotal connection for the folding form and clamping member; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of the apparatus taken along line '7-7 of Fig. 5.

ferring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, a shirt folding apparatus lil, which in this instance is of a front fold type, is shown comprising a base il, a vertically extending column 12 and a height-adjustable head member 13.

The head member i3, as seen in Fig. 4, comprises a top section 13 which is secured to column l2 by a plurality of brace members 13a which extend convergently downwardly from the underside of section i3' and are secured at their lower ends to a sleeve 13b which adjustably embraces the upper end of the column l2. The top section 13 is provided with a substantially ilat, down wardly inclined surface le over which the garment to be folded is laid face down. Surface f4 has mounted thereon u recessed expansible collar mold i5 which is adapted to receive the collar of a standup collar type shirt during the folding operation. The collar mold 15 is of a conventional type and well known by those skilled in the art and therefore further description thereof is deemed supen fluous. The expansion of the mold is regulated by a foot pedal l5 which is pivctaily mounted on the base ii. A push rod 16a extends upwardly from pedal .t6 for actuating the collar mold. 'l'hc rod ida is provided with a turnbuckle lob for varying the length of the rod depending on the height of the head member 3.3.

Disposed forwardly of the collar mold and recessed lfrom surface l-i is a well i7 which extends crosswise of the surface 14 and is adapted to receive a plurality of shirt bands, not shown, one of which embraces the shirt subsequent to its being folded. A pair of elongated bloclts 17a and 17b are shown in Fig. l disposed within the well i7. The blocks serve to vary the Width of the well depending upon the width of the shirt band to be used.

Mounted on surface 1li, and to the rear of the collar mold it' is a U-shaped bracket 1S which serves as a bearing support for the folding form 29 and clamp member to be hereinafter more fully described. The ends 18a and 15b of the bracket 1S project upwardly from surface 14 and are provided with openings through which a rod 2S extends.4 The rod 25 is rigidly mounted on the lower edge of the folding form 2lb and is adapted to turn within the end openings.

The folding form 2li is of standard design and is adapted to assume a position A, see Fig. 4, when in an inoperative position and a position B when in an operative or down position, see Fig. 5. When the form is in the latter position the garment is folded Vthereabout. Mounted on one surface of the form 2li is a spring-biased holding linger 2l which may be manipulated by the operator into holding relation with the shoulders of the garment, subsequent to the shoulders embracing the form 20, and thereby retain the shoulders in their ernbraced position while the remainder of the garment is being folded about the form. Mounted on the opposite surface of the folding form is a spring clip 22 which is aromas adapted to engage and hold thereagainst a cardboard templet or shirt board, not shown. The templet remains enclosed by the bosom of the garment subsequent to its removal from the folding form.

Hingedly mounted on surface 14, adjacent collar mold and at substantially a right angle with respect to the rod 2S of folding form 20, is an adaptor plate 23, see Fig. l. The plate 23 is constructed preferably of a perforated metallic material and is adapted to be manually moved into and out of covering relation with respect to the mold by the operator. The plate 23 is shown in its inoperative position C in Fig. l. The operative or covering position D of the plate 23 is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7. The plate 23 pivots or swings about a rod 24, which has one end thereof secured to the surface 14 and has the other end thereof in embracing relation with respect to the shaft 25. The adaptor plate 23 is perforated in order that the heat from the collar mold may be dissipated therefrom when the plate is in its covering position D. The exposed surface 23a of the plate, when the latter is in position D, is of a coarse finish and has mounted thereon a gauge strip 26, see Fig. 2. The strip 26 is provided so as to aid the operator in properly positioning the collar of the garment 27 on the adaptor plate 23 in order that the collar will be rmly engaged by the clamp member when the latter is in its down or pressing position F. The coarse surface prevents slipping of the collar once it has been placed on the plate 23 and the clamping member 30 brought into pressing engagement therewith. The clamp member 30 will be discussed more fully hereinafter. The plate 23 is provided with a bead 28 on the free edge thereof, which bead affords greater rigidity to the plate. Furthermore, the bead 28 engages surface 14, when the plate is in position D. tially flush with the surface 14.

The clamp member 30 is substantially U-shaped and has the legs 31 and 32 thereof spring-biased towards each other. The lower end portions of the legs 31 and 32 are secured by welding or any other suitable means to hubs 33 and 34, respectively, which embrace rod 25 and may rotate independently thereof. The ends of the legs are turned upwardly a slight amount to form stops 35 which are engaged by the undersurface of the folding form 2@ when the latter is in position 13, see Fig. 7. The significance of the engagement of the folding form and stops 35 will become apparent hereinafter. Disposed intermediate the legs 31 and 32 of the clamp member is a cross piece 36 which is adapted, when the clamp member 3@ is in its down or operative position F," see t Fig. 7, to engage a portion of the garment collar 27 which is positioned on plate 23 as heretofore described. Piece 36 has a coarse finish, and thus, when in combination with the coarse finish of the adjacent surface of plate 23, serves to prevent relative movement of the collar during the folding operation.

The hubs 33 and 34 which are secured to legs 31 and 32, respectively, are of like design and therefore only one will be described in detail. The hub 33, as seen in Fig. 6, is substantially sector-shaped and has the apex portion thereof in embraceable relation with the rod 25 of form 20. One side edge 37 of the hub is secured by welding or any other suitable means to the spring-biased leg 31 of clamp member 30. The opposite or upper side edge 3S ofthe hub is beveled, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The inner surface 4() of the hub 33 frictionally engages the corresponding edge 4l of the folding form 2S. The frictional engagement between the edge 41 and the inner surface of the hub is dependent upon the amount of biasing of the legs 31 and 32. The clamp member 30, when in its inoperative position, assumes a position 15, see Fig. 4, and may be manually moved independently of the folding form 20 from position "E to dotted line position F. When the clamping member is in position F and folding form 20 is in position A, the crosspiece The plate, when in position D, is substan- 36 is locked in pressing engagement with the collar of the garment. This locking is effected by the hubs 33 and 34 moving towards each other a slight amount along rod 25 when the edges 41 of the form 20 are opposite the beveled edges 38 of the hub members. The edges 41 of the folding form are approximately centered on the beveled edges 38 when the clamp member is fully lowered. Thus edges 41 of the form 20 in combination with the beveled edges 38 of the hub serve as stops for the clamping member 30.

To effect unlocking of the clamp member 30 from position F, the operator engages the upper end of thc folding form 2t) and causes it to be tilted or moved forwardly from position A as shown in Fig. 5. When the folding form 20 is so moved, the hubs 33 and 34 are caused to spread apart thereby causing the edges 41 of the folding form 20 to once again frictionally engage the inner surface 40 of the hubs. If folding form 20 is moved to position 13, the underside of this form will engage stops 35 and the weight of the form will cause the clamp member 30 to remain in its pressing engagement until the form is moved upwardly from this position. When the folding form is moved from position B to position A, the frictional engagement between the edges 41 of the folding form and the inner surface 4t) of the hubs will cause the clamp member 30 and the form 20 to move upwardly as a unit; member 30 moving from position F to position E, see Fig. 4.

In certain instances the customer prefers to have his sport shirt folded in a wide fold manner, not shown, that is to say the fold is transverse the bosom of the shirt and in the upper portion thereof. in such a situation the folding form 20 remains in position A. Subsequent to the collar of the garment being positioned on the plate 23, a templet of the standard rectangular shape is positioned on the shirt so that one long side of the templet abuts the gauge strip 26. The clamping member 30 is then moved to position F where it engages the exposed surface of the templet. The shirt is then folded about the templet while it is held in a relatively fixed position on the shirt by the member 30. The clamping member 3), upon completion of the fold, may be released from position F by the operator tilting the folding form 20 forward a slight amount and then returning it to position A. Friction between the edges 41 of the form and the inside surfaces 40 of the hub members 33 and 34 will cause the clamping member to swing upwardly.

The steps followed in folding a nonstand-up collar shirt in the conventional manner-that is to say, lengthwise of the bosom-are as follows: (a) The operator moves the adaptor plate 23 from position C to position D thereby covering over the recessed collar mold 15; (b) The garment is then laid face down on the folding surface and the collar 27 thereof is aligned with gauge strip 26. as shown in Fig. 2; (c) The operator holds folding form 20 in position A by one hand and with the other pulls clamping member 30 from position E to position F whereby the garment is securely held between clamp member 30 and adaptor plate 23; (d) The folding form 20, with a cardboard templet mounted thereon, is manually moved from position A to position B; (e) The garment is then folded about the folding form 20; (f) Upon completion of the folding step, the garment is embraced by a shirt band which is disposed within well 17;

g) The folding form 20 is raised and the garment pulled endwise from this folding form with the templet remaining within the shirt; and (h) The folding form 20 is returned to position A.

lf the next garment to be folded should happen to have a stand-up collar, the adaptor plate 23 would be returned to position C thereby exposing the collar mold 15. The stand-up collar is then brought into embraceable relationship with the collar mold 15, and, while so positioned, the mold is expanded by the operator depressing pedal 16. Folding form 20 with a templet mounted thereon is aver/ese then lowered from position A to position 3. The clamp member 30 in this instance remains at all times against the adjacent surface of the folding form. The remaining steps to be followed are similar to those steps (e)-(h) above enumerated.

In Fig. l, adaptor plate Z3, clamping member 30, and their associated mechanism are shown used with a frontfold type folding apparatus. However, it is to be understood, of course, that they may be readily used with other forms of folding apparatus, such as a side-fold type. Furthermore, plate 23, clamping member 3), and its associated mechanism, may be attached or used with folding apparatus already in existence, which apparatus was adapted to fold only garments having a stand-up type collar.

Thus it will be seen that a single folding apparatus has been provided which may readily fold either stand-up or nonstand-up collar type garments with equal ease and with no undue loss of time. Furthermore, the device is simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that theA invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

l claim:

l. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially flat folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment having a stand-up collar during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess, said device comprising an adaptor plate swingably mounted on said surface for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said recess, said plate being moved into said closing relation and beneath said folding form when the latter is overlying said recess to accommodate a collar when a garment having a nonstand-up collar is to be folded, and clamping means mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying pressing engagement with said nonstand-up collar when the latter is accommodated by said plate.

2. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially flat folding surface provided with a recess to acommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess, said device comprising an adaptor plate hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said recess, said plate when in said closing relation being disposed in substantially the same plane as said surface and intermediate said recess and folding form when the latter is overlying said recess, and a clamping piece mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of overlying pressing engagement with said plate when the latter is in said closing position.

3. In a garment folding apparatus having a folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment having a stand-up collar during the folding operation, a folding form mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess, and means mounted on said apparatus and cooperating with said recess for accommodating the collar of a garment having a nonstand-up collar during the folding operation, said means comprising an adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said recess, said element when inclosing relation being disposed beneath said folding form when the latter is in overlying relation, a clamping piece mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of overlying engagement with said element, when the latter is in 5 said closing relation, and means mounted on said piece and engageable with said folding form for effecting temporary locking said piece in said overlying engagement with said element.

4. in a garinent folding apparatus having a height-adjustable folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a` garment having a stand-up collar durinti the folding operation, a folding form' mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess and in resting engagement with said surface, and means mounted on said surface, and means mounted on said surface for accommodating the collar of a garment having a nonstand-up collar during the folding operation, said means comprising an adaptor plate mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of closing relation with espect to said recess, said plate when in said closing relation being disposed in substantially the same plane as said surface and beneath said folding form when the latter is in overlying relation, a clamp piece mounted ori said apparatus for movement into and out of overlying pressing engagement with said plate when the latter is in said closing relation, and means mounted on said piece and in rubbing engagement with said folding foi-rn for effecting temporary locking of said piece in engagement with said plate.

5. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess, said device comprising an adaptor plate mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said recess and adapted, when in closing relation, to be disposed beneath said folding form when the latter is overlying said recess, said plate having one side thereof of a relatively coarse finish on which said garment rests when said plate is closing said recess, a clamp piece mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of overlying pressing engagement with the coarse side of said plate when the latter is in said closing relation, and means mounted on said piece and engageable with said folding for'm for effecting locking said piece in said overlying pressing engagement with said coarse side.

6. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially flat folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for moveon said surface for vmovement into and out of overlying pressing engagement with said plate when the latter is in said covering relation, and means mounted on said clamp piece and engageable With Said folding form for effecting temporary locking of said piece in said overlying pressing engagement with said plate.

7. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially fiat folding surface provided with a recess to accommodate the collar of a garment and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess; said device comprising an adaptor element mounted on said surface for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, said element, when in covering relation, being disposed in substantially the same plane as said surface, and a clamping piece pivotally vmounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement about the common axis of said folding form, said piece adapted, when in operative position,

to engage with said element when the latter is in said covering relation.

8. A device fo 1 use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at, height-adjustable folding surface provided with a recess to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess, said device comprising a perforated adaptor plate hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, said plate, when in covering relation, having one surface thereof exposed and of a coarse finish, and a clamping piece pivotally mounted on said surface for movement into and out of engagement with the coarse surface of said plate when the latter is in said covering relation, the plate engaging portion of said clamping piece being of a like coarse finish.

9. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at folding surface provided with a recess to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess, said device comprising an adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, a clamping piece pivotally mounted on said surface for movement about the common axis of said folding form and into and out of engagement with said adaptor element when the latter is in said covering relation, and a pair of locking members mounted on said piece and in rubbing engagement with said folding form for effecting locking of said piece in engagement with said adaptor element.

l0. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially dat folding surface provided with a recess to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess, said device comprising an adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, a substantially U-shaped clamping piece having the legs thereof pivotally mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of engagement with said adaptor element when the latter is in said covering relation, and a pair of locking members, one mounted on each of said legs and in rubbing engagement with the corresponding edge of said folding form for effecting locking of said piece in engagement with said adaptor element.

li. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at folding surface provided with a recess to accommodate the collar of a garment having a stand-up type of collar during the folding operation and a folding form hingedly mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, said device comprising an adaptor plate mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of covering relation with respect to said recess, said plate, when in said covering relation, being disposed intermediate said recess and folding form when the latter is likewise in said covering relation, a clamp piece pivotally mounted on said surface for movement, about the common axis of said folding form, into and out of engagement with said plate when the latter is in said covering relation, said piece adapted to be moved independently of said form into said engagement and to be disposed intermediate said plate and form when in said engagement, and means mounted on said clamp piece and cooperating with said folding form for effecting temporary locking of said piece in engagement with said plate, said clamp piece being released from said locked position upon movement of said folding form out of said covering relation.

l2. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially ilat surface provided with a welllike opening to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said opening, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of juxtaposition with respect to said opening, said element conforming generally t0 the dimensions of said well-like opening and when in closing relation being disposed beneath said folding form and the garment being operated upon when the latter is in overlying relation.

13. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially fiat folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said recess, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of engagement with said recess, said elem-ent when in position of registration with respect to said recess being disposed intermediate said recess and folding form when the latter is in overlying relation, and clamping means mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of engagement with said element to clamp such a garment therebetween when said element is in registration with said recess,

14. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at surface provided with an opening to accommodate the collar of a garment while being folded on said surface and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said opening, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor element mounted on said surface adjacent said opening for movement into and out of juxtaposition with respect to said opening, said element when in closing relation being disposed substantially flush with said dat surface of said apparatus and beneath said folding form and such a garment when the folding form is in overlying relation.

l5, A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially fiat surface provided with a welllilce opening to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relationship with said opening, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor elem-ent mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said opening, said adaptor element being mounted to lie substantially fiat against said surface at one side of said opening when in nonclosing relation therewith and to overlie said opening when in closing relation to support such garment thereabov-e.

16. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially flat folding surface provided with a recess for accommodating the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relationship with said opening, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor element for movement into and out of registration with said recess, clamping means for movement into and out of engagement with said element when the latter is in registration with said recess, and mounting means for said adaptor element and said clamping means mounted on said folding surface whereby said adaptor element will swing to one side of said opening when out of registration with said recess and will overlie said opening when in registration to support such garment thereabove, and said clamping means will swing upwardly and away from said recess when in nonengagement with said adaptor element.

i7. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially fiat surface provided with a well-like opening to accommodate the collar of a garment while being folded on said surface and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relationship with said opening, said device comprising a substantially planar adaptor element mounted for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said opening, said adaptor element when in closing relationship supporting such garment thereabove, clamping means for movement into and out of engagement with said element when the latter is in said closing relation with respect to said opening, and a single mounting means on said surface for said adaptor element and clamping means, the movement of said adaptor element being independent of the position and movement of said folding form and said clamping means.

18. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially at surface provided with a welllike recess to accommodate the collar of a garment while being folded on said surface and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relation with said opening, said device comprising a substantially at adaptor element swingably mounted on said surface adjacent said recess for movement into and out of closing relation with said recess and being disposed, when in said closing relation, in substantially the same plane as said surface and beneath said folding form when the 10 latter is in overlying relation whereby such garment will be disposed thereabove for folding.

19. A device for use with a garment folding apparatus having a substantially Hat surface provided with a welllike opening to accommodate the collar of a garment during the folding operation and a folding form mounted on said surface for movement into and out of overlying relationship with said opening, said device comprising an adaptor element mounted on said apparatus for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to said opening, said adaptor element being mounted to lie against said surface at one side of said opening when in nonclosing relation therewith and to overlie said opening when in closing relation to support such garment thereabove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 2,367,261 Bicknell et al. Jan. 16, 1945 2,616,595 Arruda Nov. 4, 1952 2,639,065 Forse et al. May 19, 1953 

